Apply for 4CNW Talent — Information for Creatives

These FAQ's will be added to as the programme develops, so if you feel your question is not answered below, please email us at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or contact us on Facebook.

What is a creative business?

The term “creative industries” refers to a range of economic activities that deal with the creation, production and distribution of creative goods and services. Creative industries build upon a rich and diverse core of cultural heritage, skilful arts and other creative crafts, and provide products and services in sectors such as publishing, media, software, gaming, consultancy, advertising, arts, entertainment, TV, design fashion and architecture.

I think I have a creative business but I don’t see myself on that list, can I still apply?

The above is the EU definition of creative industries but is not an exhaustive list, you can still apply, and your eligibility will be assessed by the expert panel. Should you have any further queries please contact us at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

What’s a Cluster/Collaborative Network? How do I know if I’m part of one?

A cluster is a common term for a grouping of similar (often micro) businesses who are known to each other and network or support each other regularly. This might be a physical grouping such as an Enterprise hub in your local IT or University, or a virtual network of named companies that meet regularly to discuss relevant topics such as the Open Coffee network.

Can you give me an example of some Clusters/Collaborative Networks?

Sure – here’s a list of some clusters in each region that we know about, but remember that this is not an exhaustive list, and membership of one of these clusters is not a requirement for application.

I thought this was about new approaches to working, why do I have to illustrate previous experience?

If a company is going to contract your services you can reasonably expect that they will look for prior experience before making their decision. Remember that this is a competitive call for proposals, and we are interested in funding the best possible ideas with the best chance for success.

Remember also that the business that is contracting you is doing so with 50% of its own funds, so it is important that you deliver a quality project on time and within budget. We do recognise that, as a creative business, you might propose working in new ways or on new aspects of your skill base and one of the desired outcomes of the 4CNW programme is to discover potential new businesses. With this in mind, it is sufficient to illustrate previous experience of working on a project of a similar scale, budget and delivery time, even if the work was not in the same precise area.

Why do you want to know about my awards and publications?

Have you ever been nominated for or won any awards, have you been asked to speak about your work at an industry conference, have you ever been asked to write about your work for a relevant publication (on or offline), are you involved in any industry groups or do you hold any positions within these groups - secretary of a local creative community group for example)? As with the FAQ above, the company that contracts you will do so with 50% of their own funds, and 50% of the project funds so it is reasonable to expect that they will want to assess the quality of your work, in addition to the appropriateness of your work for their specific challenge. Creativity is often subjective, and a complex area to qualify, but combination of previous work, past experience, and the opinion of fellow creatives are helpful indicators.

How do I get paid for my work?

If you are matched with a client company your contract is with the company and you will be paid by them. It is important that you negotiate your payment terms with the company that will be contracting you as you may have some up front costs to pay. Equally you may be happy to wait until the commission is completed before you expect payment. The business will have to provide proof that the payment for the project has been paid to you in full before they can receive their funds from 4CNW.

Will I get any additional support during the Programme?

You will be able to avail of coaching, mentoring and help desk support from the Broker in your area to answer any specific questions you have and help you prepare for your pitch. The Broker will also be available to support you throughout the project period and help iron out any problems you may experience. We are very aware that this way of working may be new to you or that you may not have worked with an industry client before.

How do I know that the Intellectual Property IP in my ideas will be protected?

It will be important to be specific about IP rights when you are agreeing the contract between you and the company procuring your services.

What benefits will there be for me in joining the European How to Grow platform?

How to Grow is the official web platform of the European Creative Industries Alliance and a virtual meeting point to support business development and growth in the creative industries across Europe. Members can access services and tools specifically designed for the needs of creative professionals and creative businesses. The services focus on aspects, such as, the enhancement of entrepreneurial skills and sharing knowledge on access to finance.

How will the 4CNW Creative Directory be promoted?

The 4CNW Creative Directory will be promoted and disseminated widely within business networks, forums and professional associations across NW Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland. In addition it will be promoted and disseminated at European level as part of the overall dissemination and promotion of the 4CNW pilot business support model.

Can I collaborate with another creative to offer services to the 4CNW Talent project?

Yes, absolutely. The 4CNW programme encourages collaboration at all levels.

I have a wide range of creative services to offer and would need more than the allocated number of words to describe my business properly – how do I fill in the form?

We understand that many creative businesses offer a wide variety of skills and services. However, we need to judge all applications equally and want to make sure that our panel members have the same level of information for each applicant. You need to make sure that you use the word allocation effectively and plan with language so that anyone can easily understand your offer. It’s good business practice to be able to express what you do in a few lines, it may take some time to formulate, but it’s a handy skill to master.

Can I start the Application Form and save it so I can return to it later?

No you can't, once begun you must move through all steps of the application form in order to complete it. We understand that you might want to spend time on your application however, so we have created sample application forms in Word and Adobe pdf which you can download and use as a worksheet to prepare your application before completing it online.

Please note that these templates are for draft purposes only, your final application must be made online.

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This website has been produced as part of the European Creative Industries Alliance/European Mobile and Mobility Industries Alliance. The views expressed in this report, as well as the information included in it, do not necessarily reflect the opinion or position of the European Commission and in no way commit the institution.

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